I’ve known Laurie for a little over a year now and she’s absolutely hilarious.  A few months ago she contacted me about a cake and cookie order for her baby shower.  I should clarify that this baby shower was supposed to be a SURPRISE thrown by her mom, but the only thing Laurie didn’t know was the actual date!!  She designed all her own invitations and cookie tags, picked out her gifts, and essentially knew what the cake and cookies were going to look like long before the actual baby shower.

Let me tell you, keeping the date a secret was like an undercover CIA operation with the number of variables that came into play.  The logistics alone were exhausting.  Such as how the cake was going to get to its intended destination in Toronto without Laurie knowing about it AND how I was going to get the cookie tags without her being suspicious of my timing.   Let’s just say there were some frantic emails and phone calls made between myself and Laurie’s mom and husband during this process!

Laurie already knew that she was having a boy so the stationery, cake, and cookies were all themed around airplanes and the colours red, navy blue, and a lighter blue.  Oddly enough, while I was sitting at the airport last month waiting for a flight I wondered if Laurie got her inspiration from Air Canada because these are the exact colours of their staff uniforms!  

The overall design of the cake was actually based on the invitations which included stripes and stars.  A gumpaste airplane topper with “special delivery” trailer was also used on top which could be removed and saved as a keepsake.  Her flavour of choice was chocolate cake with vanilla and SKOR buttercream. 

The cookies were also airplane themed to tie in with the cake.  I will say, I don’t spend a lot of time decorating cookies.  I only squeeze them in here and there on request (“squeeze” being the operative word as hand cramps are NOT fun!!).  And let’s not talk about the 310 breast cancer ribbon cookies I donated to the SPANNER fundraiser for St. Mary’s Hospital a few years back.  I almost vowed never to make another cookie after that.   But just as they say happens with childbirth…you tend to forget what you went through…and then do it all over again! 

Congratulations Laurie!

Here’s another “first”! 

Cake pops seem to be all the rage in the cake world right now.  If you’ve never had one it’s a buttercream drenched cake ball speared onto a lollipop stick and covered in a hard chocolate shell.  Yum!  These cookies and cream and red velvet samples were made for Magda who is foregoing a wedding cake in exchange for a cake pop display on her candy buffet table.   Definitely a fun alternative!

A couple of weeks ago I had another opportunity to work with Hilary from One For The Wall Photography.  This time it was for her daughter’s birthday cake!  Claire was turning eight and was celebrating with a sleepover party.  Hmmm…10 young girls in one house for over 12 hours.  Hilary, you are a brave woman!!

When asked what would represent Claire, Hilary didn’t hesitate to say a figure skate.  Both her daughters are avid figure skaters and from what I hear Claire is quite good too.  She recently won a gold medal for her performance which is fantastic!  In this respect her cake design was obvious.  It had to be a skate.

I’ll admit, I was a bit uneasy to take this on because a) I’ve never made so much as a sock, shoe or boot, and b) there was a slight chance I’d get overambitious and try to make this thing actually stand up!  In light of time, my rational self shot down point (b) which could have easily become a “next time remember not to do this” experience.  But point (a) has never stopped me before so off I went making a figure skate.

The best part of making cakes for photographers is that you can guarantee there will be great photos!  And Hilary was kind enough to share some of hers.  Goes to show you should never let a “first” stop you from trying!

Happy birthday Claire!